Bark + Bite

Jay-Z reflects on the joys of fatherhood in "Glory"

Over the weekend, you might have heard the news: Beyonce and Jay-Z had a baby. The daughter of Hova was born on Saturday and presumably, Jay-Z hit the studio right afterward and recorded this touching ode to his newborn daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. She even makes a guest appearance in her papa's lullaby.

In terms of great songs from a parent to a child, Jay-Z's "Glory" ranks up there among the best. Lauryn Hill's sea of love for her son Zion in "To Zion" was soul stirring and Jigga's "Glory" moves the spirit in a similar way. It sweeps the listener away with emotion and honesty that leave you feeling purer and cleansed in a holy way.

Any shred of Jay's thug pride melts away in this touching dedication and Jay spares nothing, as he reveals his relief in Blue's arrival, in part, because a previous pregnancy resulted in miscarriage for he and Beyonce.

"Last time the miscarriage was so tragic, We was afraid you disappeared / But nah, baby, you magic," Jay spits.

Listen to Jay-Z's love letter to his daughter below

Beyonce keeps it economical in the trailer park for "Party" video

Times are tough for a lot of folks. Not for Beyonce, really, but still, it's nice of the queen to pay homage to us common folks by throwing a low-budget, kitschy, barbeque/pool party/block party in her video for "Party," the latest single from 4.

This is a pure '90s throwback video which goes along perfectly with the song's '90s throwback production. Think Tupac's "I Get Around" video. Only this time, Beyonce decided to get a 2-for-1 special by repurposing segments of her Dazed & Confused photo shoot as vignettes for the "Party" video. Hey, even Beyonce's cutting back and cutting corners in this economy. That line of House of Dereon bedazzled diapers and onesies she's probably working on isn't gonna pay for itself.

Watch the video for Beyonce's newest single below

People who deny Beyonce's pregnancy are the birthers of pop music

Photo: Wireimage

When Beyonce announced her pregnancy in grand fashion at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, most people were overjoyed with the news. Even though some rudely hoped openly that the baby ends up looking more like Beyonce than her hubby, Jay-Z, the general sentiment toward Beyonce and her unborn child was still one of kindness.

But the dark underbelly of humanity is "showing its ass," as Beyonce said in "Best Thing I Never Had."

A few blogs are perpetuating the rumors that Beyonce is "faking" her pregnancy. Nevermind that there were paparazzi photos of the singer with her obviously pregnant belly exposed in Croatia. Beyonce, some people insist, is definitely not pregnant! Or at least she's not as pregnant as she says she is.

The latest morsel of evidence that the conspiracy theorists have pounced on is a clip of the singer from an interview with the Australian media. They believe that her prosthetic belly "folds" in the clip. No one really has a believable or logical motive as to WHY Beyonce would go through the trouble of wearing a fake belly, but they insist they're right anyway.

Watch the Beyonce birthers' "evidence" below

Beyonce plays dress up in "Countdown" video

While some artists may have a difficult time paying homage to other artists, Beyonce has no qualms about borrowing and paying tribute to legends. In the fun and flirty video for the third (or fourth) single from 4, Beyonce crams in references to Audrey Hepburn, Twiggy, Flashdance, West Side Story, Andy Warhol and Diana Ross.

For fans who felt worried that the "old" Beyonce had left the building, this should reassure them that the superstar's pregnancy hasn't extinguished a single bit of her Sasha Fierce.

Watch the video for Beyonce's latest single below

Lady Gaga supports Beyonce at her Roseland Ballroom show

Photo: Wireimage

Lady Gaga says in interviews that she doesn't have any "friends" in the music industry, but she appears to at least maintain a close acquaintance with her gal pal Beyonce. The two have duetted twice, once on Bey's "Video Phone" and once on Gaga's "Telephone."

And Beyoncé came out to Madison Square Garden earlier in the year for Gaga's Monster Ball tour stop. So it's only fair that Gaga repay the kind gesture by turning out for one of Beyonce's sold-out 4 Intimate Nights shows at the Roseland Ballroom.

Gaga hit the Roseland Ballroom for Beyonce's show after announcing that she would be opening the VMAs on MTV in Times Square. As always, she was friendly, gracious and she stopped to sign autographs. And she wasn't the only celebrity in the building; Frank Ocean, Maxwell, Jay-Z, Jennifer Hudson and other famous folk were also in attendance.

And don't think that Gaga went to the show and sat all prim and proper. A fan snagged footage of Gaga fist pumping to "End of Time." Get into it.

Watch a brief clip of Gaga living it up at Beyonce's show below

Mathew Knowles might just be the big bad wolf everyone thought he was

Somewhere, Latavia Roberson is swirling a glass of boxed wine with a cigarette in the other hand, muttering to herself, "I told y'all motherf**kers."

When Beyonce announced her split from her father, Mathew Knowles, as her manager, she tried to pass it off as the next step in her evolution as an independent woman. Of course, it was complete and utter bull. You don't fire your momager or dadager for nothing. There's always some drama lurking underneath. Just ask Usher.

And now Beyonce's father has let the cat out of the bag: He was sacked because Beyonce thought he was stealing money from her. TMZ got wind of the situation and broke down the details.

Mathew claims Live Nation was effective, because Beyonce had her law firm conduct an audit, and the law firm concluded Mathew had indeed pilfered money from her. Beyonce then fired him.

Mathew claims after he was canned, Beyonce hired a manager who had worked as a former exec at Live Nation and maintained a relationship with the company.

Mathew insists the theft accusations by Live Nation are false, and he wants the judge to give him the right to take depositions of various people at Live Nation, to determine just how they concluded he was a thief.

It's remarkable that any of this is even reaching the media. But if Beyonce's track record is anything to go by, don't expect to see her break a sweat. She didn't bat an eyelash or blink an eye when news of her father's love child broke. And she hasn't answered a single question about it to this date. She'll likely exert her power similarly to make sure no one who interviews her brings up this messy affair either.

Still, it's an unnecessary distraction for Beyonce, who is in the midst of promotion for her fourth studio album, 4.

Beyonce gets the last laugh in "Best Thing I Never Had" video

The world didn't get to attend Beyonce's real wedding, so maybe the matrimonial-themed video for her second single, "Best Thing I Never Had," is Beyonce's way of making up for it?

Whatever Beyonce's motivations, the end-product is breathtakingly beautiful. Beyonce looks stunning as she causally lounges around in a VERY see-thru outfit of white lingerie in the video. The Chun-Li style hair buns are also pretty quirkishly awesome.

The other really awesome thing about this video? The 1998 flashback scene. Revisiting your teenage years is so in in pop music now thanks to Katy Perry.

Watch the video for Beyonce's latest single below

Happy birthday, America! Love, Beyonce

Since she's already secured a spot as one of the Obamas' favorite pop stars du jour, it really shouldn't have been a surprise to see Beyonce headlining this year's Macy's Fourth of July special on NBC. And Beyonce being Beyonce, she upped the dramatics of it all by performing on Liberty Island at the feet of Lady Liberty herself. She even dragged her wind machine out there to show Ms. Liberty how to let your mane flow.

It was a short but sweet set as Beyonce knocked out "God Bless America" and her latest single "Best Thing I Never Had" in an elegant evening gown and extravagant jewelry. Sorry, Sasha Fierce lovers. There was no hip gyrating, booty shaking or wig flipping going on this go 'round. Maybe Beyonce can get stank to "End of Time" for Labor Day or something and put in that work.

Watch Beyonce's 4th of July performances from the special below